The Health and Beauty Benefits of Turmeric
Turmeric is a superfood that is loaded with health and beauty benefits.
A member of the ginger family, turmeric is commonly used as a spice in the kitchen—but is also known for its medicinal purposes. It is packed with a host of health and beauty benefits that can improve your skin, heart, and so much more.
We chatted with Lishawn Lalonde, Creator and Founder of ULIV Skincare—a line of products that is formulated with organic turmeric for ultimate skin health. Here, she discusses the many benefits of the powerhouse ingredient and shares her special recipe for glowing skin:
What are some of the health benefits of turmeric?
There are several chemical compounds found in turmeric, known as curcuminoids. The active in turmeric is curcumin. Practitioners in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda have been prescribing turmeric for centuries, knowing the power of turmeric. It helps fight inflammation, boosts skin health, works as a natural pain reliever, aids in detoxification, helps with depression, and combats obesity.
Turmeric has also been used to treat certain cancers, regulates cholesterol, slows down blood clots, supports management of IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), and may outperform common arthritis drugs.
What are some of the beauty benefits of turmeric?
Because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, turmeric increases glow and luster of skin. It speeds up wound healing, decreases acne and acne scars, offers anti-aging properties, calms rosacea, and helps soothe psoriasis. The curcumin inhibits a specific protein and enzyme needed for the creation of melanin, which helps prevent age spots. It also helps treat itchy skin, under-eye circles, and vitiligo.
How do you incorporate turmeric into your products?
I use a turmeric oil sourced from an certified organic farm. It is the easiest way to absorb into skin cells for full properties without making skin yellow. We also use a ginger component to carry curcumin with its peppery components because they work better together.
ULIV Skincare is formulated with organic turmeric and ginger.
Is turmeric safe for everyone?
If you’re pregnant, it’s ok to sprinkle it in food, but not ingested as a capsule daily. Overconsumption could cause nausea or diarrhea, so listen to your body and use wisely. When applied to skin it can leave a yellow stain. Always consult your physician or a nutritionist before making any changes to your diet.
What are some ways that people can incorporate turmeric into their daily lives?
You can take it in a capsule form daily, and you can sprinkle ground turmeric on different foods, such as soup. I use turmeric in my juice with turmeric root, ginger, carrot, apple, and lime—then I top it off with a dash of cayenne! I love my Golden Milk Latté, which is a great anti-inflammatory elixir (see recipe below).
I like to mix a little bit of ground turmeric, yogurt, and Manuka honey together to create a mask for my skin. For very light skin, be careful not to use too much turmeric, as it could leave a yellow stain.
The Golden Milk Latté is an anti-inflammatory elixir.
Golden Milk Latté
Ingredients:
One half-inch knob fresh turmeric root
One half-inch knob fresh ginger root
1 tsp. Manuka honey
8 oz. coconut or almond milk
1 tsp. vanilla ghee
Pinch of black pepper
Dash of cinnamon
Directions:
1) Put all ingredients except for the ghee in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
2) Pour the mixture into a pan on medium heat.
3) Stir in the ghee and continue stirring occasionally until hot.
4) Sprinkle with more cinnamon and enjoy your internal glow!
For more information, visit ulivskin.com and follow them on Instagram: @ulivskincare
[Images courtesy of Uliv Skincare]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk